It's a diverse list of entertainers with a pile of Oscars, Emmys and Pulitzer Prizes between them, not to mention dozens of big-screen blockbusters and enduring fan favorites. But they, and a growing list of others, have something new in common.
All are part of projects being developed and released by tech companies known more for making products that deliver entertainment than producing the entertainment themselves.
Microsoft is the most recent tech titan to confirm such plans. This week, the computing giant unveiled Xbox Originals, a dozen original television series, from documentaries to sci-fi epics, that will be available exclusively on its gaming consoles and other Microsoft devices.
Leading the charge are Spielberg and Scott, who are involved in two separate series based on the massively popular "Halo" video-game franchise. Others in the lineup, which will begin rolling out in June, include a sci-fi drama, "Humans," and "Signal To Noise," a documentary series that "will expose little-known stories of how modern technology has radically altered the way we interact with our world."
"Microsoft has a long and rich legacy in the content business," said Jordan Levin, executive vice president of Xbox Entertainment Studios. "Games have been part of our DNA for at least the last 15 years, and creating original TV content is a logical next step in our evolution."
The announcement is just the latest in a series of similar moves.
If, as Microsoft's own Bill Gates once said, content is king, an increasing number of digital-age companies no longer satisfied playing middleman are making their claims for the throne.
Netflix led the charge two years ago, and has Emmy Awards to show for it. Two shows for the digital streaming service, "Lilyhammer" and "The Ropes," debuted in 2012. But it was "House of Cards," which brought home two Emmys last year, that cemented Netflix as a serious source of original material. Newer hits like "Orange is the New Black" and a revived "Arrested Development" have shown its success to be no fluke.
